'How far did you look?' Trade rumors: Lee Jung-hoo showed everything—three home runs, a catch-and-throw, and fantastic defense! MLB career 100 RBI → Team secures 9-2 rout [SF Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Just how much will Lee Jung-hoo (28, San Francisco Giants) fetch as a trade asset? Lee Jung-hoo has once again raised his value with outstanding performance.

On the 26th (Korean time), Lee Jung-hoo started at third in the batting order and played right field in the 2026 MLB regular-season home game against the Los Angeles Angels at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, U.S., recording two hits in three at-bats (one home run), three RBIs, one run scored, and one strikeout, leading San Francisco to a 9-2 victory.

With this performance, Lee Jung-hoo achieved his first multi-hit game in seven games, raising his batting average from 0.299 to 0.302. His OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) reached 0.771. He also reached 100 career RBIs since joining the MLB.

Lee Jung-hoo showed everything he could possibly show. In his first at-bat in the bottom of the second inning, he struck out on a foul tip against right-handed pitcher Ryan Johnson. But from his second at-bat onward, he lit up the bat.

In the bottom of the third inning with San Francisco leading 5-0 and two outs with runners on first and second, Lee Jung-hoo crushed an early slider from Johnson that was inside, sending it far over the right-field wall. The ball traveled 365 feet (approximately 111.3 meters) at a exit velocity of 101.5 mph (approximately 163.3 km/h), marking his sixth home run of the season.

His defense was equally impressive. In the top of the fourth inning with two outs, Lee Jung-hoo chased down a ball hit by Denzel Guzman near the right-field wall and made a spectacular catch. Although it was a difficult play that went over his head, he pursued it relentlessly to end the inning.

Lee Jung-hoo continued to deliver extra-base hits. In the bottom of the fifth inning as the leadoff batter, he pulled a slider from left-handed pitcher Brent Suter and connected for a double down the right-field line.

Although he didn't reach third base due to lack of follow-up hits, Lee Jung-hoo once again dampened the Angels' momentum with another strong defensive play. In the top of the sixth inning with one out and a runner on first, he faced Joe Adel's ground ball down the left-field line. Aware of the potential for extra bases, Lee Jung-hoo was positioned slightly deeper but quickly fielded the ball and threw to third base, forcing out runner Nolan Shonwell at first.

As the score gap widened significantly, substitutions began in earnest from the seventh inning. Lee Jung-hoo also drew a walk on Kirby Yates' fifth pitch in the bottom of the seventh with one out and runners on second and third, then was substituted before the top of the eighth inning to conclude his game.

San Francisco secured a 9-2 victory behind quality starts from starting pitcher Robby Ray (six innings or more with three earned runs or fewer) and Rafah El Devers' four-hit performance in four at-bats (one home run), four RBIs, and two runs scored. Starting pitcher Ray pitched six innings allowing six hits, walking two batters, striking out five, and remaining scoreless, earning his ninth win of the season (six losses).

Angels starter Johnson recorded a loss with three and one-third innings pitched, allowing eight hits (one home run), walking one batter, striking out four, and giving up eight earned runs, bringing his season record to five losses (two wins).

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*This content was translated by AI.